GLOBAL MIGRANTS South Africans the Seekers

If we can’t be at home, then let’s find the closest thing to it!

South Africans tend to favour countries that have what we perceive to be similar cultures. The UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all boast very large expat populations. Pretty soon though, we realise that things just aren’t the same – and it hurts! We start to remember all of the little things that we took for granted and that made us who we are – children of Africa.  This niggling feeling that tends to set in after the novelty has worn off, is tremendously difficult to shake. 

How do we cope with this lingering emotional bond with home? 

Some of us pretend to shake it off immediately and totally immerse ourselves in our new country and culture.  A fresh start!  I tried this, but I would still give anything to sit around a kuiervuurtjie in the bush and my heart still leaps with excitement when I hear an Afrikaans conversation on the tube.  At the other end of the scale there are those who hang out in expat pubs, in expat neighbourhoods, braai on Sundays with other South Africans and complain about the weather!  It is difficult to decide which is a better approach.

Despite the longing – we survive and excel!

As hard as it is to move on, we are generally no strangers to hard times and conflicting emotions, so we go forward!  Driven by ambition, lust for adventure and recognition of the opportunities we now have, we don’t just survive, we generally excel in our new countries.  I have met many people in my travels that rave about the work ethic and no-nonsense attitudes of South Africans and I believe that we should be very proud of our ability to do well when the chips are down.  We gain so much from our new countries, not just in a financial sense, but also in terms of how we see ourselves, and our place in this world.

We gain, but what do we give?

It is no secret that the opportunity to travel and start afresh is beyond the reach of most South Africans.  If we are reaping the benefits of being ‘citizens of the world’, we are pretty fortunate!  This begs the question – are we giving anything back?  Admirably, some South Africans are!  Whether it is lining up to vote from abroad, supporting progress in South Africa or eventually returning home with new skills and experiences to share, many South Africans are not forgetting what or whom they left behind.

And what about our new homes?

While our drive to give to our own is naturally stronger, we owe a great deal to the new lands that have opened their doors to us.  It is imperative that we work for what we gain, become active members of our local communities, share our culture proudly and positively and try to make our new homes better and brighter!  By and large, this is already the case and it should be a source of tremendous pride to all South Africans, near and far.

Are we global migrants?

We are a proud, patriotic people. We are tough and resourceful. We are skilled and tenacious.  Above all though, we are the searchers. From the day our ancestors, whether from further up in Africa or from across the seas searched for something better, it has been part of our psyche to explore far off horizons. Sometimes we get it right, other times we realise that we may have been a little over zealous, but one thing remains constant – South Africans have the guts to go looking!